The Delta independent., 1887-05-17
1t was a perfect day for nutting ex


1t was a perfect day for nutting ex-
cursion. The purple mist slept on
the distant swells of prairie as softly
as bridal veil; the naples. sumachs
and oaks, were fairly lrridesccnt, and
the ivory hickory-nuts were tumbling
from the husks with every breeze that
blew, much to the delight of the news
boys and bootblacks of Kent Brain ard .
mission school.
Kent Brainard was the principal
owner of the great foundry that puffcd
its clouds of SCOT and sparks upward at
all hours of the day and night
He also owned 4 cattle ranch in West
ern Kansas. and was the protector of a
new railroad; so. even if ho had been
other than the handsome bachelor ho
was. the girls of Brainardville would
have dccmel him n golden prize in the
matrimonial pool.
But he had fought his way up from
the ranks, and now seemed to sec in
every ragged boy counterpart of his
old self, as he ran errand!, sold news
papers, and did everything poss Bile to
d his frail. pretty little mother in her
struggle for bare bread and leaking
roof.
So he founded lodging house for
poor boys. established miss on school,
and devoted every moment that he
could spare from business to the eleva-
ton OF the little ragamuflins. who ador-
cd him with all their warm hearts.
$50 odd of him. said Rosa Bofin,
pretty girl with "Dlondc" hair, long
eye-lashes. which sho made the most of.
and pretty gnesture and tricks of ex-
preston. which she practiccd daily be-
fore mirror.
But, nevertheless. she developed an
unsupported vein of piety. and took a
class in the IN ssion school. wherc she
beamed upon the tn rteen boys that fell
to her share rs swectly and sunnily rs
was possible for any one to do whose
heart was seething all the time with de-
testation for themselves and their
pranks.
The children had finished gorging
themselves upon substantial lunch.
and Kent Brainard and all the teachers
of the mission school were seated at an
especial table as Miss Boflin's invited
guests.
1t was deckcd with the dantiest nap.
perry. bright silver and colored glass
I,I IA
ing of lunches. yet Kent Brainard's
glance kept rowing toward his adven-
turous youngsters.
won't you have another peach. Mr..
Brainard?" said Rosa, swcetly.
That foolhardy little Tom Matthews
will certainly fall. said Kent abs emily.
as he watched little carrot-he AIDED
fellow climbing like monkey to the
very topmost bough of hickory tree.
II wish he 70 oouH fall! wish every
ragamuffin in the world would break
his good-for-nothing little neck, and
then perhaps Kent Brainard would
have eyes and ears for other peopleH'
Rosa breathcd into the little pink ear
of Mamie St. John. another pretty
mission teacher.
Rosa's pity was evidently only thin
veneering.
'Oh. suppose hos training up Tom
Matthews cross-eyed little sister. Bid
dy. for his wife. He appears to be just
infatuated with the siums!" whispered
Mamie. in return, making a little grim
mace of pretty disdain.
"Another peach. did you say, Miss
Rosap inquired Kent, after he had
watched little Tom decend in safety.
"Yes thank you. 1 wM have one.
Those great, yellow. rose-tinted globes
are precisely my idea of ambrosia.'
But fat young man who was de-
voted to Mamie St. John. and likewise
to the good things of this world, had
helped himself to the last peach in the
cut-glass dish. and as Rosa tilted the
tin can, to renew the supply, some
thing fell with the peaches something
that proclaimed Itself as brightly as
gold when an arrow of sunlight caught
it
1t was locket with the inscription
"Aunt Kate to Lttle Kit" traced on
one side, as Kent discovered, after i'm
mersing it in the goblet of water. and
wiping it with napkin which blazed
with the Boffin "B." done in red, etch-
ing-silk.
Kent opened it curiously and stud
led the face within attentively.
Frank. sweet eyes of the darkest
blue met his own; a saucv. tender
mouth laughed up at him; and he
could almost fancy that the dinple
nesting in the swcet-pea cheek deep
ened beneath his gaze. SO overHowing
with radiant life was the grlish face.
"How romantic!' echoed Mamie
St. John. peeping over his shoulder.
Now of course, you will trace the
peaches from Johnson's. where Rosa
bought them. to the place where
they were canned. and never rest till
you have found the fair original. when
the thing will and in cream colored
satin and the Wedding March,
THANK you for the sugges ton"
said Kent. his dark eyes sparkling
m schievously.
"Nonsense!" broke in Rosa. a trifle